Woman held in stabbing death

Friday, Aug. 7, 2009

Melissa Marie Tippet, 36, was charged Monday with the first-degree murder of Cheryl Lynn Sailor, 43.

According to charging documents filed in Prince George's County District Court, Tippet lived in Waldorf until recently and pleaded guilty in February to theft, a parole violation.

Police responded to Tippet's home in the 16300 block of Baden-Naylor Road just before 9 a.m. Sunday and found Sailor suffering from a stab wound. Sailor died at a hospital Sunday.

Ramon Korionoff, a spokesman for the Prince George's County State's Attorney's Office, said Tippet has a criminal background in Charles County. Korionoff said he was aware Tippet was on parole but had yet to review court documents.

Court records for Tippet date to 1995 and include theft and second-degree assault charges. She is being held at the Prince George's County Department of Corrections on a no-bond status.

Sgt. Michelle Reedy, a Prince George's County Police Department spokeswoman, said Monday that she was unsure how many times Sailor had been stabbed.

While police believe the stabbing was spurred by an argument, Reedy said Monday the relationship between the women remained unclear.

Tippet's trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 2.

mmckeever@gazette.net.